On Good Friday join us in prayer next to Minnesota’s highest volume abortuary at it’s new location. Fifteen area pastors will lead in scripture and prayer each half hour throughout the day. A life-sized cross will be our sign as we carry the cross of abortion. An area will be cordoned off for a family-safe day of prayer. More than 2,000 Christians joined in prayer throughout the day at each of the last three Good Friday Vigils at the old location. Help us double those numbers on April 6!

We are encouraging groups to arrange a bus of their own. All buses must be registered with our office to find out the logistics of the day. We have another off-site parking lot for these group buses. For more information or to register a bus, contact Stephanie at 651-771-1500 or stephanie@plam.org.

Basic Things to Know:

Remember, more than any other event we organize, the Good Friday Vigil is a day of prayer. Pro-Life Action Ministries will only bring one sign, a life-sized cross. And the only signs you need to bring are yourselves!

We will have portable restrooms at the Vigil site. The street where we will be is closed to all traffic and our area will be surrounded by the police “bicycle” barricades. This will be as safe as ever for families.

Bring sun screen and all you need for your children, including water, etc.

Come ready to pray and be deeply moved by God.

Parking Information: (READ!)

There will be no parking available anywhere near the Mega-Planned Parenthood on Good Friday. Please do not even drive into the area.

We have arranged for parking at the University of St. Thomas at the St. Paul Seminary parking lots. You enter from Cretin Ave. at Grand Ave. Please follow the signs or the directions by our volunteers.

Buses will shuttle everyone to and from the Good Friday Prayer Vigil site. These buses will run the entire day from 8:00 am until our closing at 4:00 pm. There will be room for light strollers and everyone attending. If you are planning on being on site for the Opening Prayer, try to arrive as close to 8:00 am as possible. Also remember that the Vigil lasts all day and coming later in the Vigil has great advantages with parking and shuttles.

October Baby is a coming of age story of Hannah, a beautiful 19 year old college freshman. In spite of her energetic (if somewhat naïve) personality, Hannah has always felt like an outsider. Something is missing. She has always carried a deep seeded sense that she has no right to exist.

When she discovers she was adopted it comes as a shock, but Hannah’s world is rocked even more when she learns why she was never told before – because she was the survivor of a failed abortion. Desperate for answers, she embarks on a road trip with some friends (including her oldest and closest friend Jason) to find her biological mother. In the process she unexpectedly discovers hope, love and forgiveness.

This uplifting and beautiful film may change the way you look at the world, your loved ones… and life.

I was on the phone with Susan G. Komen’s PR person about four years ago. I was working for the Archdiocese at the time, in the Office for Marriage, Family and Life. “Why do you give funding to Planned Parenthood?” I asked her. She stated that the grants they gave helped pay for breast cancer screening. I told her that I thought that was fishy. Interestingly, Live Action News reports:

“In the tapes, a Live Action actor calls 30 Planned Parenthood clinics in 27 different states, inquiring about mammograms at Planned Parenthood. Every Planned Parenthood, without exception, tells her she will have to go elsewhere for a mammogram, and many clinics admit that no Planned Parenthood clinics provide this breast cancer screening procedure. ‘We don’t provide those services whatsoever,’ admits a staffer at Planned Parenthood of Arizona. Planned Parenthood’s Comprehensive Health Center clinic in Overland Park, KS explains to the caller, ‘We actually don’t have a, um, mammogram machine, at our clinics.’ “

However, some claim that Planned Parenhood (PP) does do breast examinations. And Interestingly enough, Planned Parenthood’s own Annual Reports have shown that breast exams have actually decreased at the organization since it began receiving money from Komen.

Whatever the case may be, I’m glad Komen has finally seen the light. For now, they will not renew their grants to PP–like they have the past five years–which totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Why did Komen make this decision?

I think one of the reasons Komen has decided to truly embrace life, and turn away from Planned Parenthood, is because of the pressure many people were putting on them for giving to an organization that is guilty of killing millions of pre-born children. When I worked for the Archdiocese, our seminarians at St. John Vianney contacted me with a troubling question: For Lent, these good men were going to go without lunch and donate the money they would have spent (perhaps a total of $25,000) to Komen’s Race for the Cure. But they had heard that Susan G. Komen had ties to Planned Parenthood. Was this true? After I sent them information confirming their fears, they decided to give their sacrificial donation to another charity and voice their frustrations. I was proud of them, and I’m sure they went on to teach this discovery to their flocks.

Also, it is important to recognize that this decision came a few months after a new executive vice president, Karen Handel, was hired at Komen. Handel ran for governor of Georgia in 2010 and was endorsed by Sarah Palin. She is very pro-life and supports pregnancy-help centers. (She’s my new hero!)

And, Komen’s new donor requirements do not allow the charity to fund any organization under investigation and Planned Parenthood is currently being investigated for using federal money to fund abortions. But, Komen could reissue grants to Planned Parenthood if nothing comes of the investigation.

Please thank Komen

Anyone who speaks up for life knows that it is not always easy. Staff at this breast cancer charity giant need to be thanked so that they will have the strength and courage to persevere. Please read the letter below–which was sent to me by Sharon Wilson (Coordinator of Life for the Archdiocese)– and let Komen know that you are tickled pink with their life-affirming decision by going into your email and sending your thank you to news@komen.org:

Dear Director,

Yesterday it was announced that Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the largest global funder of breast cancer research, has restructured its grant criteria in a way that will effectively defund Planned Parenthood. For many years pro-life individuals and organizations have asked Komen to stop funding the abortion giant.

Komen will, no doubt, receive many emails denouncing its decision. Komen needs to hear from pro-life people who will applaud its decision.

While there may be other issues we will encourage Komen to address, right now they should be affirmed for defunding Planned Parenthood.

Please encourage your networks to write to news@komen.org and say: “Thank you for defunding Planned Parenthood!” It’’s that simple!

Expressions of thanks from you and those in your network will help to ensure more positive changes at Komen in the future.

“The Billboard People” sponsored 6,500 prolife billboards in 42 states last year, but they want to do more.

“Our goal is 7,000 billboards,” Prolife Across America founder Mary Ann Kucharski told supporters in an email blast, “because we know that the more ads that are out there, the more people reached and babies’ lives saved.”

Changing hearts in order to save babies lives has been the purpose behind Prolife Across America since the Minneapolis-based nonprofit started up 23 years ago as Prolife Minnesota. The heartwarming photos of babies adds an emotional tug to the outdoor marketing’s messages of information and alternatives to abortion, including adoption and post-abortion help.

The group is in the midst of a “Father’s Campaign” (photo above) that began in mid-October with more than 1,900 billboards on that theme, (see them all here), Kucharski told The Catholic Spirit.

She added, “You may be interested in knowing that we will have at least one on University and Vandalia (near the new Planned Parenthood building in St. Paul, MN), thanks to an anonymous donor.”

The e-blast to supports invited donations to reach the 7,000-billboard goal.

“So often our 800# Hotline for Help may be the only visible sign of hope and help to someone on the brink of an abortion decision,” Kucharski wrote. “Please help us do more in 2012.”

According to an article by LifeNews.com, Students for Life of America has just released their latest video, Turn the Tide 2012, which features abortion survivors thanking the pro-life movement for its 39 years of service. The video shows how the pro-life movement is winning the abortion battle.

It depicts men, women and children who have either survived abortion themselves or who have overcome the suggestion or temptation to abort suggested by medical doctors or family members.

Kristan Hawkins–who is the current executive director of Students for Life of America–reminds us:

“This Sunday will mark the 39th Anniversary of the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton Supreme Court decisions which legalized abortion in all nine months of pregnancy, for any reason in the United States. It will also begin the 40th full year of legal abortion.”

A few weeks ago my husband and I were enjoying a glass of wine. As he talked football my eyes began to glaze over until I heard him say, “…and there’s this player who is really religious who–“

I interrupted him excitedly: “I know who you’re talking about!”

“No, you don’t!” He challenged.

“Tebow!” I said, feeling like I made my own Hail Mary Touchdown Pass. “He plays for the Broncos!” (It took me a few seconds to recall his team, I’ll admit)

Hubby was dumbstruck.

I proceeded to tell my spouse–who coaches football and other sports at St. Joseph’s in WSP–about the commercial that Tebow filmed with his mother for last year’s Super Bowl. My husband had heard about the commercial, but wasn’t aware that the hoopla surrounding it was because it carried a pro-life message. I knew, from Catholic news sites, that the Tebows were told to abort him–and I sure wanted to tackle the story:

Celebrating Life

Pam Tebow was very sick with dysentery when she was pregnant with Tim. She and her husband, Bob, were doing missionary work in the Philippines at the time, and Pam had to take very strong medication for her illness. Unfortunately, the placenta never attached correctly and for a short time Pam was even in a coma. Doctors suggested they abort the baby, but they obviously refused.

Bob told Sports Illustrated in July 2009:

“I told Tim, ‘You’re a miracle baby. God’s got a purpose for you, and at some point I think He’s going to call you to preach.’ “

I hope Tim doesn’t fumble, and that he continues to embrace life. Through all his challenges, may he stay as tough as his mom and dad!

He’s a great preacher in his own special way, and the culture of life needs him!

Check out the book Tim Tebow wrote about his family’s pro-life story called, Through My Eyes.

Please attend the Mass for Life on Sunday, January 22. Bishop Le Voir will be presiding at this special Noon Mass at the Cathedral. YES, this does count as your Sunday obligation, so come as a family to attend together. The MCCL Rally at the state capitol will follow the Mass. Last year this inspiring event was attended by approximately 3,000 people.

This year marks the 39th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s tragic decision to legalize abortion. Over 50 million babies have lost their lives.

Please join others in this opportunity to pray for these children of God, as well as the men and women who suffer because of the decision they made to terminate a pregnancy.

Contact the Marriage Family and Life office at 651.291.4506 or wilsons@archspm.org with questions.

(Information taken from the Church of St. Joseph in W. St. Paul’s bulletin)

Yes, it’s true…The new $16 million dollar abortion facility in St. Paul is open today. Pray that mothers and couples in a crisis pregnancy turn away from this place and seek pro-life assistance. Pray for the pregnancy help centers and the sidewalk counselors;

New Planned Parenthood in St. Paul

that they receive the gift of patience, knowledge, strength and perseverance. And pray that the staff at this mega clinic has a change of heart.

According to Steven Ertelt of Lifenews.com, more than a third of all abortions in Minnesota–approximately 4,000 a year–will occur at this site. (Please read the whole article.)

Planned Parenthood claims that this new facility, which is larger than a half city-block, is NOT about abortion. However, in all the years PP was in Highland, they were performing abortions during the first trimester. But unfortunately, this past summer they have expanded into doing abortions into the second trimester.

Prayer for the Hopeless Unborn

Heavenly Father, in Your love for us, protect against the wickedness of the devil, those helpless little ones to whom You have given the gift of life.

Touch with pity the hearts of those women pregnant in our world today who are not thinking of motherhood. Help them to see that the child they carry is made in Your image – as well as theirs – made for eternal life. Dispel their fear and selfishness and give them true womanly hearts to love their babies and give them birth and all the needed care that a mother alone can give.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen

Update: On December 21–the second day that this PP site was open–a baby was saved through the efforts of sidewalk counseling (according to Brian Gibson at Pro-Life Action ministries). Hallelujah!

Congratulations to Pro-Life Action Ministries and to all people (including Archbishop Nienstedt) who embrace life and participated in the 40 Days for Life campaign. Your prayers and sacrifices worked! Read the beautifully written email from Brian Gibson below for details of this exciting news.

Licensed under Creative Commons

Brian was honored by the Archdiocese last month as a Champion for Life–a tribute he richly deserved!

Brian’s Email

Dear Kathy,

Regions Hospital, bowing to the pressure brought by prayer and the presence of thousands of Christians, announced today that the abortuary within the hospital will close on December 9, 2011. This comes after seven 40 Days for Life campaigns involving thousands at the hospital, petitions drives, phone calling and emailing campaigns, and millions of dollars in lost business for HealthPartners over its ownership of the hospital and the abortuary.

I cannot express properly the waves of emotions of joy I am experiencing with this victory.

I have little doubt the reason for this announcement on the Friday after Thanksgiving was intended to minimize the publicity of the closing and to pass a “Regions only” spin to the news. But it matters little as to the claims of the hospital, we know how much prayer and labor has gone into convincing hospital officials to close their abortion mill.

This is the first abortion facility to close in Minnesota in more than two decades.

We thank God first and foremost for this great victory. It is the Lord of Life who has moved hearts and changed minds. We also thank all those who prayed ardently, kept vigil or stood in witness at Regions, who signed petitions, sent correspondence, picketed at HealthPartners clinics and annual meetings, and who aided the boycott of HealthPartners medical insurance these past six years.

Happy Thanksgiving again!

Your brother in Christ,

Brian Gibson

In an email received later, Brian Gibson wrote: “Join with us on Friday, December 9 at Noon to thank God for His victory with the closing of this killing center! This victory rally will be at Regions Hospital located at 640 Jackson Street, Saint Paul, MN. We will gather at the same place we held our 40 Days for Life prayer services.”

A St. Paul Pioneer Press article states that in 2010 there were 545 abortions conducted at Regions. Again, thanks to Pro-Life Action Ministries and to everyone else who helped close this place of sadness.

If you’d enjoy a trip down memory lane through St. Paul 60-70-80 years ago, you might look for Vern Schultz’s “Memoirs of a Left Hander” (Amazon.com).

The self-published book about growing up in the Frogtown neighborhood preserves some history worth saving about the 1940s and ‘50s.

Schultz, who lives in Prior Lake now, taught at St. Agnes High School in the early 1950s, and for many years officiated sports, including in the Catholic Athletic Association.

Catholic to the core, Schultz recalls both highlights and low-lights of Catholic life in those pre-Vatican II days. In more recent times, room in the Schultz home was rented to the pastor of St. Michael Church in Prior Lake!

No abortion for them

Schultz’s faith pours through when he writes about how he and his wife Toodie reacted when, after a genetic disorder took the lives of their first two children and a doctor recommended she have an abortion when they found themselves expecting again.

There is their gratitude, too, when Catholic Charities came to their rescue to help them adopt the family they so wanted.

Writing a memoir is no easy task, of course, and while the middle years of Schultz’s life get short shrift, that weakness doesn’t detract from the very pleasurable reading of his earlier years. Those are great memories of a time and place that need to be remembered and cherished, a Schultz has a nice writing touch.

Allow me, though, to offer advice for others putting down their life history: Get a proofreader. My teeth grind when I read “to” where “too” is required and “complemented” when “complimented” is the proper word. — bz